Is Verizon Internet Down?

Verizon offers 5G home internet, LTE home internet, Fios fiber internet, DSL internet, and mobile phone data in the U.S. You can have an internet outage on any connection type, but our reporting shows outages are not common. They’re usually pretty short too.

We’ll help you find out if there’s a Verizon outage where you live and give you steps to get back online. Then, we’ll give you the facts you need to decide if it’s time to switch internet providers.

How to find out if Verizon internet is down

If you think you might have a Verizon outage, the first thing to do is check your home setup. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Try logging on with a different device, such as a gaming console, smart TV, or smartphone.

Step 2: Check your Verizon wireless gateway (router + modem). A solid white light means you’re connected, a blinking white means the system is setting up, and an amber or red light means no connection.

Step 3: Check your Ethernet and power cables to make sure they are connected securely and haven’t been damaged.

Step 4: Restart (or unplug and reboot) your affected devices and your gateway. A full reset usually takes about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Check your My Verizon app or Verizon account for any outage-related notifications.

Check the lights on your gateway

Verizon offers wireless gateways for its Fios and 5G home internet services, and these gateways function as both a router and modem. A white light indicates your internet is connected, while a red or amber light may indicate an internet outage.

Katie Garza, a member of the HighSpeedinternet.com team, uses Verizon 5G Home Internet at her Arizona home. She says outages sometimes occur, but they are very short and much less problematic than with her previous internet provider, Cox .

Katie’s husband, David, uses their 5G internet connection for his photography and videography work and sometimes complains about slow uploads but otherwise says Verizon 5G is better than other internet options in the area.

Learn more and troubleshoot your Verizon connection

• How To Set Up Verizon 5G Home Internet
• No Internet Connection? How to Troubleshoot Internet Issues
• 6 Reasons Why Your Home Internet Is So Unreliable
• Modem and Router Lights Explained
• How Often Should You Reboot Your Router?

Still can’t get online? Contact Verizon

If you can’t get online and can’t figure out why, it’s time to reach out to Verizon. Here are the best ways:

• Call Verizon Fios help at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
• Call Verizon mobile help at 1-800-922-0204 (including Verizon 5G or LTE home internet)
• Check reported outages for Verizon mobile (including Verizon 5G or LTE home internet)
• Check reported outages for Verizon Fios
• Check the Verizon news center in an emergency
• Check Verizon News or Verizon Support on X (formerly Twitter) or visit the Verizon page on Facebook

Verizon internet outage stats

Internet providers like Verizon don’t like to say how often their networks go down. That’s why we asked real customers of each Verizon service how often they experience outages at home. Here’s what we found out:

Verizon customers had good things to say about the reliability of the network. As expected, Fios was by far the most reliable internet type from Verizon. Less than 10% of customers reported frequent problems with their service.

Verizon 5G customers also came out ahead of average, with about one customer in six reporting frequent outages or slowdowns. That makes sense because the reliability of fixed wireless internet (such as Verizon’s 5G and LTE offerings) depends on how far you are from the nearest tower and how busy the network is at any given time.

Verizon doesn’t offer new DSL connections anymore, but some internet customers may have access only to the older copper wiring Verizon uses for its landline telephone services. We haven’t talked to those customers since 2023, but when we did, they reported slowdowns and outages that were just barely higher than the national average.

Are Verizon internet customers satisfied?

Our survey went beyond asking about the frequency of problems. We also asked about customer satisfaction because that’s what really matters when you’re deciding which internet service to order for your home.

Here’s what Verizon customers told us about each connection type.

Like with outage and speed stats, satisfaction stats from Verizon customers are no surprise. Fios customers are happiest, followed by Verizon 5G/LTE customers and then DSL customers. Nationwide, Fios and Verizon 5G/LTE customers like their internet service more than average, but Verizon DSL customers are a little underwhelmed.

If you’re a Verizon DSL customer and you are less than delighted with what you’re getting, check out your options for Verizon 5G/LTE or T-Mobile Home Internet . Members of our team have tested both, and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Does Verizon offer refunds?

No, Verizon customers are not entitled to refunds if network outages occur. However, the company will repair or replace any of its equipment that has been damaged due to bad weather.

The no-refunds policy isn’t great, but we like how transparent Verizon is about its network performance. For every Fios tier, Verizon says actual speeds match or exceed advertised speeds. For DSL customers, actual speeds fall within advertised ranges (but never exceed them). Actual results for 5G and LTE home internet are not reported, but you can find a range of reported speeds toward the bottom of the report.

Leave a review about your Verizon service

If you’re a Verizon customer, we want to hear from you! Your honest reviews help us give better advice to other customers looking for great home internet. Once you’re done, check out what other Verizon customers have to say.

Write a Verizon internet review Read other Verizon reviews

Verizon customer feedback

We analyzed hundreds of real reviews from Verizon customers to learn more about their experiences with reliability. Below are snippets from some of the most helpful ones.

Quotes from customers*

Verizon mobile infrastructure upgrades

Verizon has been busy upgrading its 5G network across the country in recent years, with special focus in places like Washington, D.C., Alaska, South Carolina, and along the Jersey Shore. This has meant new cell towers, upgraded capacity on existing towers, and additional bandwidth. The company has also been busy building new fiber for its towers. By September of 2023, it boasted 57,000 miles of new fiber, according to a press release about the expansion.

The upgrades to the mobile network will result in faster and more reliable service, but may result in short-term network outages. If they affect you, you’ll get a text message or email directly from Verizon.

Learn what to do if you don’t have phone service.

Verizon Fios expansion

Verizon is upgrading its Fios home internet network too. The figures are a little murky, but a recent report quoted a Verizon executive saying it had upgraded 5.2 million circuits from copper (DSL) to fiber by October of 2023. That meant 63 offices were upgraded, but it’s unclear how much copper infrastructure remains.

In 2023, Verizon announced fiber builds in Massachusetts, Delaware, upstate New York, and Virginia. Much of that buildout is supported by taxpayer funding.

If you don’t already have DSL internet from Verizon, there’s no way to get it. However, you may be eligible for Verizon 5G/LTE home internet .

How Verizon compares

Verizon competes with other mobile providers in every state. For Fios home internet, Verizon’s biggest footprint is in the Northeast. You can get it in the following states:

• New York
• Massachusetts
• A tiny portion of New Hampshire
• Connecticut
• New Jersey
• Maryland
• Delaware
• Virginia
• Pennsylvania

Which internet providers are available to you depends on your exact address, but below is a list of providers that compete directly with Verizon Fios. Here’s a look at how prices and customer ratings compare.

Our expert take on Verizon Fios vs. local competitors

Verizon Fios offers a high-quality network, great pricing, and free equipment. It ranked in eighth place in our 2024 annual internet service review, and customers ranked it in second place (alongside Xfinity and AT&T ). If you’re tired of Verizon outages though, it may make sense to consider competitors.

Verizon vs. Windstream: You can choose between DSL or fiber internet from Windstream and Fios in Pennsylvania and rural New York. Fios is usually the better pick if your other option is Windstream’s DSL. It’s also a better choice than Windstream’s fiber plans, even though pricing is similar. That’s because Windstream hikes prices after the first year.

Verizon vs. Mediacom: You’ll have a choice between Verizon Fios and Mediacom Xtream cable internet in parts of Delaware. Fios offers faster speeds and stable prices, and we love its straightforward pricing. However, you can get cheaper internet for Mediacom for the first 12 months (before prices increase by about $100 per month). In most cases, you’ll be happier long-term with Fios.

Verizon vs. Earthlink: Earthlink offers both fiber and internet in New York, where it competes directly with Fios. Due to network quality and fewer hidden fees, we think most people will be happier with Fios, but if you’re having a lot of Verizon outages, give Earthlink a try.

Verizon 5G Home Internet vs T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Deciding between 5G or LTE fixed wireless from Verizon vs. T-Mobile depends on network coverage where you live. Generally speaking, T-Mobile 5G is going to work better in highly populated areas and Verizon 5G/LTE is better in rural areas. Both providers give you the best possible deal if you bundle with their mobile phone services.

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